Irish Times, March 31, 2009
After 2008's critical high of The Happening (the score, not the film), the extraordinary success of The Dark Knight (with Hans Zimmer) and a surprise Oscar nomination for Defiance , veteran composer James Newton Howard kicks off 2009 with Duplicity , his impressive new score for Tony Gilroy's corporate espionage thriller. Unlike his electro-noodling for Gilroy's Michael Clayton , Howard creates a taut score that is both suspenseful and playful, particularly his deft funk, rock, and world fusion stylings. Combining strong themes and lithe polyrhythms with spare orchestration and bright electronica, Howard gradually juxtaposes driving beats, pulsing strings and surging guitars with supple thematic variations on solo piano and Spanish guitar, infusing their dynamic tension with tender lyricism and dry wit. Duplicity is a seriously cool score.
JOCELYN CLARKE
CD Description
Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Music composed by James Newton Howard
Featuring the song "Being Bad" by the electronic duo Bitter:Sweet
Fresh off a blockbuster year that included the score for The Dark Knight and an Oscar nomination for Defiance, James Newton Howard adds this striking new thriller score to his impressive tally.